The third Indo-German Inter-governmental Consultations are currently underway at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are co-chairing the meeting. Wide range of issues of mutual interest, including deepening bilateral engagement in defence, security, education, renewable energy, high technology manufacturing, skill development, science and technology, and agriculture are on the agenda. <br/><br/>At the end of consultations, agreements will be exchanged and both the leaders will issue a joint media statement. Earlier, Chancellor Merkel was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan. She also visited Rajghat to pay her respects to Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi.<br/><br/>Ms Merkel will also call on President Pranab Mukherjee today. The German Chancellor, along with Prime Minister Modi will visit Bengaluru tomorrow and participate in a business event. The first Indo-German Inter-governmental Consultations took place in India in 2011 and in 2013, Germany hosted the second round. Since taking up this format of cooperation, Indo-German relations have been on a steady upswing.